County FMR · HUD FY2026
Franklin County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Franklin County, MO - 4% above the US average.
- $995
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,218
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.1%
- YoY change
- +4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Franklin is the 16th most expensive of 116 counties in Missouri by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #16
- most expensive of 116 in Missouri (2BR)
- +28%
- vs the state average
- $39,800
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +1.1%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.4%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (41.1%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Franklin County, MO. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Franklin County, Missouri at $995 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,218/mo and a studio is $955/mo. This is 4% higher than the national average of $959 and 28% above the Missouri average of $777.
Rent increased1.1% from FY 2025 ($984), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $39,800/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Missouri. Population: 104,858. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Missouri's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Franklin County
The Franklin County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Missouri's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Franklin County's 1-bedroom rent runs 4% above the US average of $959 and 28% higher than the Missouri state average of $777. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$984 in FY 2025 to $995 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.1%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $995, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $39,800 per year (about $3,317/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,218 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 104,858 and a county median household income of $71,973, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $951 | $955 | +$4 (+0.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $984 | $995 | +$11 (+1.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,215 | $1,218 | +$3 (+0.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,570 | $1,568 | $-2 (-0.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,806 | $1,812 | +$6 (+0.3%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Franklin County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Franklin County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Franklin sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,218 Top 30% higher than 70% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Franklin compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Missouri counties
- Jackson
Jackson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Clay
Clay County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Franklin
Franklin County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Charles
St. Charles County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis city
St. Louis city
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- Greene
Greene County
$883 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Franklin is highlighted. Nearby Missouri counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Jackson County ($1,197), Clay County ($1,197), Franklin County (this county) ($995), St. Louis County ($995), St. Charles County ($995), St. Louis city ($995), Greene County ($883).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $995/mo compares to Missouri salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $114,550 | 10.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | 15% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,410 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $73,210 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $70,950 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,720 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,730 | 20.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,540 | 23.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $48,250 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $41,850 | 28.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,990 | 31.4% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $34,080 | 35% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,250 | 38.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,310 | 40.7% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,060 | 41.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Franklin County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Franklin (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 41.9% overall, from $701 to $995. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +22.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.1% | $955 | $995 | $1,218 |
| FY 2025 ↑1.2% | $951 | $984 | $1,215 |
| FY 2024 ↑22.3% | $928 | $972 | $1,209 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.7% | $748 | $795 | $999 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.9% | $689 | $745 | $947 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.3% | $671 | $731 | $938 |
| FY 2020 | $633 | $701 | $905 |
Part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metro Area
Franklin County is a outlying county of the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 14 other metro-area counties.
Franklin County ranks #13 of 15 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: St. Louis County ($995), St. Charles County ($995), St. Louis city ($995), Madison County ($995), St. Clair County ($995), Jefferson County ($995), Lincoln County ($995), Clinton County ($995), Warren County ($995), Monroe County ($995), Jersey County ($995), Calhoun County ($995), Franklin County (this county) ($995), Bond County ($836), Macoupin County ($698).
Show all 15 counties in this metro area
Nearby Counties in Missouri
Largest counties by population in Missouri
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Franklin County? ▼
How does Franklin County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Franklin County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Franklin County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Franklin County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Franklin County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Franklin County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Franklin County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Franklin's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $995 implies about $39,800/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Franklin can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.